Bright and Morning Star

If the title by which the Lord would assure Israel of the certainty of a glorious future is ‘the root and offspring of David’, the promise to the Church for which He died is encapsulated in the delightful title, ‘the bright and morning star’. What better description could there be of the hope that has cheered the hearts of countless saints who, to one degree or another, have longed for the dark night of sorrow, trial and tears to come to an end? The natural man is a lover of darkness, John 3. 19, and for that reason sought to extinguish ‘the light of the world’. But the promise of the Saviour still stands, ‘he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life’, John 8. 12. Hence, as believers in the Lord Jesus, we are identified with those of whom Peter said ‘ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light’, 1 Pet. 2. 9.

True though it is that we now walk in spiritual light, the scenes of earth are so often shrouded in deep darkness for the child of God. Is there to be no end to the long night of the pain and loss of those who stand for Christ in a hostile world? Will the sighs and the tears of the broken heart never cease? Are the blasphemies and the impiety of godless men to prevail? No, dear saint, a thousand times ‘No’! The night is in its final watch, the darkest hours are about to be dispelled. Why keep your eyes on the impenetrable shadows and gloom of a world ripe for the judgement of God? Look up! Look to the east, towards the sunrise, for very soon, against the backdrop of a dark sky, will the splendid bright and morning star appear. Lovely in its pure radiance, the morning star signals the dawn of a new day. Within moments the sky will be bright with the beauty of a dawn that will never again give way to a night season. True, upon earth Israel must pass through the deep darkness of the valley of terrible tribulation days but, at the end of that time, ‘shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings’, Mal. 4. 2.

Do you feel, beloved, like those in the ship, that ‘it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them’, John 6. 17? Watch for the bright and morning star! ‘Maranatha’ – ‘our Lord cometh’!

Extracted from Day by Day Divine Titles, published by Precious Seed